87R403 MM-F     By: Guillen H.B. No. 1310       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the exemption of tuition and laboratory fees at public   institutions of higher education for certain paramedics.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 54.353, Education Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 54.353.  FIREFIGHTERS OR PARAMEDICS ENROLLED IN FIRE   SCIENCE COURSES.          SECTION 2.  Section 54.353, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a) and (f) and adding Subsection (e-1) to   read as follows:          (a)  The governing board of an institution of higher   education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and laboratory   fees any student enrolled in one or more courses offered as part of   a fire science curriculum who:                (1)  is employed as a firefighter or a paramedic by a   political subdivision of this state; or                (2)  is currently, and has been for at least one year,   an active member of an organized volunteer fire department   participating in the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System or   a retirement system established under the Texas Local Fire Fighters   Retirement Act (Article 6243e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) and   who holds:                      (A)  an Accredited Advanced level of   certification, or an equivalent successor certification, under the   State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas volunteer   certification program; or                      (B)  Phase V (Firefighter II) certification, or an   equivalent successor certification, under the Texas Commission on   Fire Protection's voluntary certification program under Section   419.071, Government Code.          (e-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the governing board   of an institution of higher education may, in accordance with Texas   Higher Education Coordinating Board rule, exclude from the   exemption under this section a course that is offered through   distance education.          (f)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall   adopt:                (1)  rules governing the granting or denial of an   exemption under this section, including rules:                      (A)  prescribing the educational attainment or   level of certification necessary to qualify for an exemption as a   paramedic;                      (B)  relating to the determination of a student's   eligibility for an exemption; and                      (C)  relating to the exclusion from the exemption   under Subsection (e-1) of a distance education course, including   prescribing the maximum number of distance education courses that   may be excluded from the exemption under that subsection; and                (2)  a uniform listing of degree programs covered by   the exemption under this section.          SECTION 3.  (a)   The Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board shall adopt the rules required by Section 54.353(f),   Education Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after   the effective date of this Act.          (b)  Section 54.353, Education Code, as amended by this Act,   applies beginning with tuition and laboratory fees charged for the   2021 fall semester. Tuition and laboratory fees charged for an   academic period before that semester are covered by the law in   effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the   former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2021.